ORFF: “Carmina Burana.” Jeffrey Reid Baker, synthesizers;...

ORFF: “Carmina Burana.” Jeffrey Reid Baker, synthesizers; Lila Deis, Peter Cody, Mak Pedrotti; New York Choral Society conducted by Robert DeCormier. Newport Classic NCD 6052 (compact disc). The world survived very nicely for 50 years without a “Carmina Burana” with synthesizers supplanting Orff’s grandiose orchestration of bawdy 12th-Century student songs. Rather than the miracle cited in the annotations, Baker’s busy contribution adds nothing but gimmickry to a score that was never long on depth to begin with. Underneath all the bloops and beeps lies a conscientious performance of what remains of Orff. Canadian baritone Pedrotti is the most assured of the soloists; tenor Cody is overparted in the roasted swan song, while Cormier leads his choral forces with customary expertise. One could wish him only a real orchestra. No texts or translations.